Keynote 1: The limits of treatment

Abstract:

Advancement of knowledge in medical care is going at a fast pace: every day new medical technologies are studied and applied, becoming new diagnostic and treatment tools in the hands of practicing physicians. The whole process needs to take into consideration the ethics of clinical experimentation, as well as the real benefit for the individual patient and for the society of applying the new technologies. In fact, it is not uncommon that several technologies will add a very scarce marginal benefit for the patient, in exchange for an unjustified limitation in quality of life.

Medical treatment limitations, especially for the end-of-life treatments, need to be taken into account in the medical decision making process, and require a careful evaluation of benefits and harms.

The keynote will present a point of view on the balance that health care providers and society need to take into consideration between advancement in knowledge and limitation of medical treatments, and the implications for the daily activities of health care professionals, including hospital pharmacists.

Teaching goal:

• present different aspects of the balance between advancement in medical care and advantages for the individual patients
• describe and comment ethical implications of new technologies, with a focus on end of life treatments
• propose and comment a role for health care professionals, including hospital pharmacists, in the whole process, with a particular focus on the relationship with the patient

Learning objectives:

After the presentation the participant should:

• become familiar with the process of clinical experimentation, definition of advancement in technology and ethical implications.